
Badminton is a fun and engaging sport that can be played casually or competitively. The scoring system in badminton has evolved over the years to make the game more fast-paced and exciting. In 2006, the rules were changed to a rally point system, allowing players to score a point during any rally, regardless of who served. This system speeds up the game and creates more opportunities for players to gain points. To win a point in badminton, a player must win a rally, which involves hitting the shuttlecock back and forth until it touches the ground inside the opponent's court or if an opponent commits a fault. A fault can include hitting the shuttlecock into the net, out of bounds, or making contact with the net with their body or racquet. The first player to reach 21 points wins the game, but if the game is tied at 20-20, a two-point lead is required for victory. If the score reaches 29-29, the game is capped, and the first player to reach 30 points wins. Badminton matches are typically played as the best of three games, with each game offering an opportunity for players to showcase their skills and strategies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of points to win a game | 21 points |
| Number of points to win a game if the score is tied at 20-20 | 2 points clear |
| Maximum number of points to win a game if the score is tied at 29-29 | 30 points |
| Number of points to win a match | 2 out of 3 games |
| Number of points to win a rally | 1 point |
| Player's position | The receiver always stands diagonally opposite the server |
| Service courts | Players must have different service courts |
| Serving rules | The shuttlecock must be hit underarm and below the waist |
| Shuttlecock landing rules | If the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court or if it hits the net, a player wins a point |
| Fouls | Touching the net with any part of the body or racket, extending the racket past the net, or hitting the shuttlecock multiple times |
Explore related products
$7.99 $7.99
What You'll Learn

Win a rally
To win a rally in badminton, you must force your opponent to make a mistake, resulting in a foul, or hit the shuttlecock in such a way that your opponent cannot return it legally. A foul occurs when the shuttlecock is served outside the court, touches the net, or lands outside the court after being returned. Other fouls include a player touching the net with any part of their body or racket, extending their racket past the net, or hitting the shuttlecock multiple times.
The server's position is critical in badminton. The receiver always stands in the service box diagonally opposite the server, and the server's partner must also change service courts after winning a point when their side is serving. This ensures that the server and their partner have different service courts. The server's score determines the receiver's position, with both players standing in the even service courts or the odd service courts.
To execute a legal serve, the shuttlecock must be hit diagonally over the net and across the court in an underarm motion below the server's waist height. The shaft of the racket should be angled downward, and the shuttlecock should not bounce. A let may be called by the referee if an unforeseen or accidental issue arises during the rally.
In addition to forcing errors or hitting unreturnable shots, you can also win a rally by earning a point through your opponent's foul. This could be due to their serving the shuttlecock outside the court or committing another violation, such as touching the net. By combining strategic shot placement, accurate serving, and capitalising on your opponent's mistakes, you can effectively increase your chances of winning a rally in badminton.
Continuing Basketball After High School: Is It Worth It?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$19.99 $14.95

Opponent's foul
Opponents can concede a point to you by committing a foul. There are several ways in which fouls can occur during a game of badminton. Here are some of the most common types of opponent fouls:
Contact Foul
A contact foul occurs when the shuttlecock comes into contact with any object or person other than your racket. The shuttlecock should only be touched by your racket during the game. It should not touch any other part of your body or clothing, including your shoes, shins, or shirt. Even if the shuttlecock makes it over the net, your opponent will still win the point if they commit a contact foul.
Double Hit Foul
A double-hit foul is committed when a player hits the shuttlecock twice in a row. Double hits are considered illegal in badminton, and if your opponent hits the shuttlecock twice, you will be awarded the point. This foul can also occur if you and your teammate simultaneously come into contact with the shuttlecock.
Service Foul
Service fouls can occur in several ways. One example is if your opponent is positioned on the left side of the court and fails to serve the shuttlecock to the right side. Players must serve to the opposite side of their opponent's court. Another way to commit a service foul is by taking too long to serve. Hesitation or an unreasonably long delay before serving can be considered a foul. Additionally, dragging your feet or making a double swing during the serve can result in a service foul.
Net Foul
A net foul is committed when a player fails to clear the net with the shuttlecock, or if the shuttlecock passes under or through the net. To avoid net fouls, players should wait until the shuttlecock has crossed to the other side of the court before hitting it. Touching the net with your body or racket during play also results in a point being conceded.
Service-Receiving Foul
Service-receiving fouls occur when the shuttlecock is served to the receiving player. To avoid this foul, players should remain still and avoid any movement or gestures during the opponent's serve. Any slight movement, including shifting your feet, can result in a foul being called against you.
The Elite Basketball: Nike's Secret Material Formula
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Diagonal serve
To win a point in badminton, you must win a rally. A rally refers to the period of play where the shuttlecock is in motion after the serve. A point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside your opponent's court. You can also win a point if your opponent hits a returned shuttlecock into the net or outside of the court.
The diagonal serve is an essential component of the game, and understanding its dynamics can give you an edge over your opponent. Here's a detailed breakdown of the diagonal serve:
Positioning
The server and receiver must always start a rally from diagonally opposite service courts. This positioning is crucial and must adhere to the even/odd rule. The rule dictates that if the server's score is odd, they serve from the left court (even, from the right). The receiver's position is determined by the server's position, ensuring they are diagonally opposite each other. This rule applies to both singles and doubles matches.
Execution
A legal serve must be hit in a diagonal direction over the net and across the court. The serve must be executed with an underarm stroke, ensuring the shuttlecock is below the server's waist (1.15 metres from the court surface) when struck. The racquet shaft should be pointing downwards during the serve.
Strategy
The diagonal serve can be used to create advantageous situations. By serving diagonally, you can target the areas of the court that might be harder for your opponent to reach from their position. This can increase the likelihood of your opponent returning the shuttlecock poorly or failing to return it, resulting in a point for you.
Variation
Varying the pace and placement of your diagonal serves can keep your opponent guessing. Alternating between gentle and powerful serves, as well as aiming for different areas within the diagonal path, can disrupt your opponent's rhythm and increase your chances of winning a point.
Mastering the diagonal serve in badminton requires a combination of technique, strategy, and practice. It is a fundamental skill that can significantly impact your performance and help you secure those winning points.
Hi-Tops: The Ultimate Basketball Shoe?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$27.85 $29.95

Two-point lead
In badminton, a point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court. A player can return the shuttlecock from inside or outside the court, but they must not hit it twice. If a returned shuttlecock hits the net or lands outside the court, the player loses the point. A match is played as the best of three games, and a player must reach 21 points to win a game.
If the game is tied at 20-20, players must win by two clear points, meaning they need to score two points in a row to win. For example, 22-20 or 23-21 would be winning scores, but 21-20 would not be enough to win. This is called a "two-point lead".
The server's score is always said first when stating the score. For example, if the server has 10 points and the opponent has 15, the score is called out as 10-15. The server's position is determined by their score. If the server's score is odd, they serve from the left court; if it's even, they serve from the right court. The receiver always stands in the diagonally opposite service box.
In doubles, the scoring works the same way, except that each pair wins points together rather than individuals. The serving pair chooses who serves first, and the receiving pair chooses who receives. The server's partner can stand wherever they want, but they must remember their service court for future rallies. The receivers never change their service courts. When the receiving side wins a rally, the serve passes to them, but their service courts do not change.
Kemba Walker's Basketball Shoes: What's His Favorite Pick?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$24.97 $24.97

30-point cap
In badminton, a point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court. A player can also win a point if their opponent hits the shuttlecock into the net or outside of the court.
Now, let's talk about the 30-point cap in badminton. The 30-point cap is an interesting feature of badminton's scoring system. The main reason for its existence is to prevent matches from continuing indefinitely. In other words, it ensures that a game will always have a clear winner, even if the score is extremely close. This rule was implemented by the Badminton World Federation, which governs international play, to provide fairness and clarity in scoring.
Here's how it works: if both players or teams reach 29 points, the game will continue until one player or team reaches 30 points. At this point, the game ends, and the player or team that reached 30 points first is declared the winner of that game. This rule is particularly important in competitive badminton, where matches are typically played as a best-of-three-games format.
The 30-point cap is quite rare, as it is highly unlikely for a badminton game to reach 30 points. In fact, some people have argued that the cap should be abolished or raised to a higher number, as it rarely comes into play and reaching 30 points is an extremely uncommon occurrence, even among equally skilled players.
While the 30-point cap does provide a safety net to prevent endless matches, it's worth noting that the likelihood of a game reaching 30 points is extremely low. This has led to discussions about whether the cap is truly necessary, especially considering that other sports, like tennis, do not have a similar cap in place.
The Prime Years of Basketball Greatness
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
You need to score 21 points to win a badminton game. However, if the game is tied at 20-20, you need to win by two clear points. So, 22-20 or 23-21 would be winning scores.
A badminton match is typically played as the best of three games. So, to win a match, you need to win two out of the three games.
You score a point by winning a rally. A rally can be won when the shuttlecock lands inside your opponent's court or if your opponent commits a fault.
Faults include serving the shuttlecock outside the court, hitting the net with your body or racket, extending your racket past the net, or hitting the shuttlecock twice. If your opponent commits a fault, you earn a point and get to serve.
The server and receiver must stand in diagonally opposite service courts. The server must hit the shuttlecock underarm and below the waist, with the racket shaft pointing downwards. The serve must be hit diagonally over the net and across the court.










































